Revd Elaine Pentland is ordained presbyter
Congratulations to Revd Elaine Pentland who has been ordained presbyter for the curacy of Willowfield. Elaine has just completed her deacon year in the parish.
Bishop David ordained Elaine along with Sabrina Cooke at a service in Down Cathedral on Sunday 28 August. The preacher was the Dean of Down and Rector of LAMP, the Very Revd Henry Hull.
Elaine reflects on her deacon year
I had imagined spending my deacon year in a small, quiet out of the way parish where I could find my feet, not the large inner city charismatic church that is Willowfield! Indeed, in the early months I felt I was swimming where my feet could not touch the bottom.
However, once I started to get know the people, and surrounded by such encouragement, I knew it was going to be a good internship. Under the guidance of Clive, I continued to practice my preaching and enjoy pastoral visiting. Glynis took me under her wing, and I became involved in the prayer ministry team and door to door evangelism. During the year I had a dissertation to complete and two home groups, kindly and with great humour, tested different models of Bible engagement with me to aid my research – and patiently listened to me bemoan the stress of writing the 15,000 words.
The year began with leading the British Legion service of remembrance on Picardy Avenue and I finished with serving hotdogs on the Ravenhill Road to the spectators for the Somme band parade on the 1 July.
With such a wide variety of experiences I’m learning first hand faith and ministry is not about finding your feet but getting comfortable with being out of your depth. On my first Sunday Clive asked how the congregation could pray for me as I served as deacon. With Graham Kendrick the theme tune of my teenage years, I asked for prayer that the Lord would, “Teach me to dance to the beat of his heart, teach me to move in the power of his Spirit, teach me to trust in the word of his promise”. Having had that prayer answered, and thrilled to be staying in Willowfield as Curate, my heart’s desire is that the Lord will continue the work he has started and that there will be more dancing by his Word and Spirit.